Germany’s Bernhard Langer remains in contention for a Senior Major treble in 2017 after a second round 65 left him three shots back going into the weekend of the US Senior Open Championship at Salem Country Club.

Langer won the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship last month to complete the Senior Career Grand Slam, adding to the Regions Tradition he won earlier in May, and he is well-placed to add to his impressive haul in Peabody, Massachusetts.

The two-time Masters Champion posted four consecutive birdies from the 12th hole to build on birdies on the fourth and sixth hole, with his only bogey of the day coming on the seventh.

At eight under par for the tournament, he shares fourth place with Scott Verplank, three shots behind Kirk Triplett and Kenny Perry, who carded rounds of 67 and 64 respectively, to set the halfway pace on 11 under par. Another American Doug Garwood is third after a round of 67 moved him to nine under par, but it is Langer who once again leads the European in a Senior Major.

“I'm in a good place, but there's a lot of great players around me,” said the 59 year old. “I mean, let's not kid each other. I just saw the leaderboard. The top eight or ten guys are pretty big names and great players.”

Reigning Senior Open Champion Paul Broadhurst is a further two shots back on six under par after signing for his second consecutive round of 67. The Englishman mixed five birdies with two bogeys and will be looking to mount a weekend challenge similar to the one he produced to win the Senior Claret Jug at Carnoustie last year.

Broadhurst’s compatriot Barry Lane has some ground to make up after a second round of 72 meant he dropped back to three under par alongside Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik in a share of 18th place. Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez (71) and England’s Roger Chapman (70) are also in the top 25 with two rounds remaining.